Dr Luanne Freer is the medical director for Yellowstone National Park and the founder and director of the "Everest ER" base camp medical clinic in Nepal. Learn more about Everest ER on everester.org
Last weekend I ran in a Montana mountain trail race produced by the “Piss and Moan” runners. These cheeky folks advertise that the trail “under normal late June conditions, takes about an hour to race swiftly like the deer, and about 3 hours to walk briskly at the porcupine's pace.” (Making me a dorcupine?) Who wouldn’t take a Piss and Moaner at their word? So off to the Continental Divide trail 14K slog for me and 200 of my closest friends. Montana late spring weather is unpredictable, and while last year’s race saw 70 degree sunshine, this year’s event was more like 45 degrees and full-on rain. Enter the Essence jacket – Marmot’s brilliant counter to Montana’s spring fickle-ness. Pouring rain? Cold wind? …whatever! I was protected by 7 ounces (I’m not kidding, this jacket is feather light!) of MemBrain® Strata™ - Marmot’s own lightweight waterproof / breathable technology that rates a whopping 20,000mm in waterproof performance and 20,000 gr in breathability. (I don’t know what those numbers mean, but I can tell you that this jacket is SO breathable) … that I found dried salt on my skin inside the jacket. LOTS of sweating on the 5K uphill switchbacks, but I never had that clammy wet feeling – even with a constant rain. All this and the Essence got admiring glances from my girlfriends – it’s not just a small mens version, it’s styled for a woman’s curves and looks good on the urban street too. I would have taken a photo at the race, but my camera isn’t rated for underwater performance – maybe it needs it’s own Essence jacket? Try this jacket – you’ll LOVE it and will make it a staple of your outdoor wardrobe.
